iOS 9.3.5 unable to connect to hotspot on iOS 15 devices

Turn on bluetooth and internet sharing on your phone.

Go to bluetooth settings on your iPad, make sure blutooth is on for this device as well and then find your phone in the bluetooth device list and choose to connect to it.

You will probably get to confirm at code on your phone for the connection with the iPad.

When the connection is set up your iPad should be able to reach internet via the bluetooth connection.

Same problem here can not connect my old iPad with 9.3.5 to my new iPhone SE (iOS 15.2.1) wifi hotspot. Works fine with another (same generation) iPhone SE running iOS 14

Found a workaround: connected via bluetooth to my iOS 15.2.1 iPhone SE and get internet connection on the old iPAD that way. But this is of course more hassle and seem to give a slower internet connection.

Welcome, Jeff_iPhone_User!

From your post, it sounds like you are having issues with connecting your iPad mini to any HotSpot on any iOS device that uses iOS 15. We’re glad that you reached out to the Apple Support Communities. We want to try and help you find the answers you need.

Is your iOS software up-to-date? For the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, iOS 15.1.1 is the newest software version. If the devices you are using are up-to-date, create a backup of your iPhone, then update the software. Here's how:

• Back up iPhone
• Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If you have updated the software and still have an issue, check out the suggested steps on this guide:

• If Personal Hotspot is not working on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

We hope this information helps you out.

Take care!

I to am having this exact same issue. It appears with IOS 15.1.1 Apple has broken support for devices on 9.3.5 to be able to connect to Hotspots. I tried calling Apple Support and was basically told “it’s an old device you are SoL”

Jeff_iPhone_User,

Thank you for returning to the Apple Support Communities with this information. To clarify, do you see an error message when you either attempt to enable to Personal HotSpot feature or try to connect to it? If so, what does the error say? Do the Personal HotSpot connections on the iOS 15 devices allow you to connect any other devices that are not iOS devices?

If you have not tried already, please Restart your iPhone. Does this help to resolve the issue? Often this simple step will refresh the apps and software on the device to solve numerous problems you may encounter.

If you visit Settings > Personal Hotspot, does it show that Personal Hotspot is enabled?

Once more information is posted, others in the Apple Support Communities may be able to offer some guidance. Another option would be to Contact Apple for support and service.

Kind regards!

How would you connect the device to the internet via Bluetooth exactly? My main phone is an iPhone 8 running iOS 15, and I am having some difficulty getting my iPad 3 connected.